If Newcastle United have gambled during the summer, Sunderland have recruited tried and trusted experience and you can already see some of the benefits of that.

They need more players and they still have holes that need to be filled but I think there is something to be said for players really having a bit of knowledge of the manager’s system, the league they’re playing in and what is expected of them.

Jack Rodwell impressed me against Manchester United and Will Buckley also looks like another solid addition who is helped by the fact that the manager knows him really well.

But Lee Cattermole was the star of the show for the second week running. I have not been his biggest fan over the years but he was outstanding against Manchester United.

One of my criticisms of him in the past was that lack of discipline but now he seems to have that. You don’t need to be spraying long-distance passes all over the park to be effective and Lee can become one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League if he gets that discipline in his game.

That position has sort of been forgotten in recent years. A while back everyone wanted a good defensive midfielder in their side but hopefully that is making a bit of a comeback.

This is a chance for Lee and on the form of the first two games of the season, he can be a big player this year.